Slick
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ɪk
Origin
From a conflation of several terms; some native to English and others borrowed from fellow Germanic languages, that are all ultimately derived from Proto-Germanic *slīkaną ("to creep, crawl"), from Proto-Indo-European *sleig-, *sleiǵ- ("to glide, smooth, spread").
Full definition of slick
Adjective
slick
- Slippery due to a covering of liquid; often used to describe appearances.This rain is making the roads slick.The top coating of lacquer gives this finish a slick look.
- Appearing expensive or sophisticated.They read all kinds of slick magazines.
- Superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy.That new sales rep is slick. Be sure to read the fine print before you buy anything.
- Clever, making an apparently hard task easy; often used sarcastically.Our new process for extracting needles from haystacks is extremely slick.That was a slick move, locking your keys in the car.
- (US, West Coast slang) Extraordinarily great or special.That is one slick bicycle: it has all sorts of features!
- sleek; smooth
- ChapmanBoth slick and dainty.
Noun
slick
(plural slicks)- A covering of liquid, particularly oil.Careful in turn three — there's an oil slick on the road.The oil slick has now spread to cover the entire bay, critically endangering the sea life.
- Someone who is clever and untrustworthy.
- A tool used to make something smooth or even.
- (sports, automotive) A tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern, often used in auto racing.You'll go much faster if you put on slicks.
- (US, military slang) A helicopter.
- (printing) A camera-ready image to be used by a printer. The "slick" is photographed to produce a negative image which is then used to burn a positive offset plate or other printing device.The project was delayed because the slick had not been delivered to the printer.
- A wide paring chisel used in joinery.
Synonyms
- (tyre) slick tire, slick tyre
Verb
- To make slickThe surface had been slicked.
- 2009, January 14, Melissa Clark, Green, Gold and Pink: Fast, Easy and Delicious, So I slicked the broccoli with oil and seasonings and set it to roast.